Interpreting Oppositions and Squares

[Happy Shrew]

In the poking around I've been doing, I've gotten this general impression about oppositions and squares:

- Oppositions are things that need to be balanced, sort of a give-and-take that can be a problem if not looked after
- Squares are things that are constantly butting heads, sort of a more aggressive issue than an opposition

Yet sometimes I hear you guys talking about squares and oppositions in charts with, I dunno, a more upbeat outlook on them. Some interpretations refer to the planets involved being similar in one way or another. How is it you come to these conclusions?

I ask because the dual wheel chart I have for myself and my boyfriend has lots of fun aspects going on and I'm trying to piece things together on my own... but I don't want to fudge the interpretations to fit what I experience. Takes all the fun out of it. You can have a looksee at it if you'd like - I think it looks pretty. :smile:

(And yes, the conjunct Mercuries really show - by far the most comical thing I've noticed in the chart.)

[Valkie]

In the poking around I've been doing, I've gotten this general impression about oppositions and squares:

- Oppositions are things that need to be balanced, sort of a give-and-take that can be a problem if not looked after
- Squares are things that are constantly butting heads, sort of a more aggressive issue than an opposition

Yet sometimes I hear you guys talking about squares and oppositions in charts with, I dunno, a more upbeat outlook on them. Some interpretations refer to the planets involved being similar in one way or another. How is it you come to these conclusions?


:hehehehe: You are correct, in all conclusions.

Oppositions need balance because the way the basic energy works is that the two planets can not function at the same time, it's one or the other. Squares act more like the two planets are pulling in different directions. They function at the same time, but they do not want to work nicely together... kinda like a spoiled child.

As far as the upbeat outlook on them: the infintial energy is difficult to deal with. Once you learn how to work with the energy and make it work for you rather than against you, the 'difficult' aspects have more energy than the 'easy' ones. Easy aspects have a tendicy of being lazy and taken for granted, but the difficult ones will not let a person take them for granted or be lazy. They demand attention and work, so, more can be accomplished with a heavy loaded chart than an easy one.

[KEishin]

Of course it's pretty - all charts are :D

Well, first off here's my interpretation of these two aspects. And it is MY interpretation, so it's not gospel. Squares are challenges when they show up. The planets involved have only one quality in common - cardinal, fixed or mutable - so it's like getting two like-minded people in a room during a party and having them debate. ("Tastes Great!" "What are you kidding? Less Filling") Each one is going to be frustrated that they can't have their own way, and perhaps argue. But that same frustration often gives the impetus and power to change things.

In oppositions, think of them as each one needing the other to be complete, but pulling in different directions. To continue in the cocktail party theme, one person has the drinks and the other has the glasses, but neither wants to share with the other.

In relationships, oppositions often draw people together, as they see in the other what they themselves are lacking. Squares are a little harder to integrate, but give a chance to fix things that prevent the relationship for moving forward harmoniously.
When Mars in one person's chart forms an aspect with their partner's Saturn, special handling is required. The hard aspects in particular can be very problematic.

Watch that Merc/Saturn opposition though - that could be trouble if not handled delicately. Think of them this way - each has problems understanding the other's point of view and may have trouble communicating that. Saturn wants Mercury to do things his way, while Mercury get po'd when constantly criticized.

[Happy Shrew]

Thanks, guys! Your explanations are great!


Of course it's pretty - all charts are :D

Not my natal one - almost everything's smushed to one side, except my poor, lonely moon. With all those lines, it looks like a planetary car pileup or something.


Watch that Merc/Saturn opposition though - that could be trouble if not handled delicately. Think of them this way - each has problems understanding the other's point of view and may have trouble communicating that. Saturn wants Mercury to do things his way, while Mercury get po'd when constantly criticized.

That's one of the aspects I felt I didn't entirely get. We're very much on the same wavelength, thanks in part to the fact that we share a lot of the same values. (Being the same sun sign may help, too - we often wind up saying how great it is to know someone else who "gets it.") He's not a very smooth talker, but he knows how to get his point across, even clumsily. I find the awkwardness endearing, but then again, we're both still very starry-eyed over each other.

At any rate, we're now pushing five and a half months and the only thing he really wanted done his way was what we'd eat for dinner. And since I eat EVERYTHING, I don't care. Criticism, again, hasn't shown up yet.

It might be that the shared values are sort of softening the issue to the point where it hasn't even been noticeable. We're both very set in our ways when it comes to how we perceive family life and society at large, so if we disagreed on that I could easily see him wanting me to think like him and me being annoyed at what he has to say about my opinions.

Also, the part about not getting each other might be softened by the conjunct Mercuries, maybe? It's kinda hard to not know someone's point of view when the two of you just WON'T SHUT UP. My goodness, it's crazy. Driving in the car? We're talking. Watching baseball? We're talking. Eating dinner? We're talking, but not with our mouths full. Playing video games? We're talking. Trying to fall asleep? We're talking. But it seems to be mainly a positive so far, as we do include other people when they're around.
This is fun. Thanks for reading my babble. :fpartay:

[KEishin]

Also, the part about not getting each other might be softened by the conjunct Mercuries, maybe? It's kinda hard to not know someone's point of view when the two of you just WON'T SHUT UP.

LOL! So true.

[Happy Shrew]

As far as the upbeat outlook on them: the infintial energy is difficult to deal with. Once you learn how to work with the energy and make it work for you rather than against you, the 'difficult' aspects have more energy than the 'easy' ones. Easy aspects have a tendicy of being lazy and taken for granted, but the difficult ones will not let a person take them for granted or be lazy. They demand attention and work, so, more can be accomplished with a heavy loaded chart than an easy one.

I just had a thought about this... because of my squashed chart, I have a lot of sextiles and composites, a couple trines and only a few oppositions/squares. I was wondering why I tend to be such a low-energy, slow-moving person... maybe this has a little to do with it? I'm not exactly lethargic, but my base level of energy is very low. Not in touch with my fire, to use elemental terms (and I have a healthy amount of planets in fire signs).

Thoughts? Any other possible explanation for my sluggish ways?

[Fluffmeister]

I'd agree with all the above, but have a couple of other observations.

In a natal chart, I think oppositions can play out in three ways:

1. Like a tug-o-war - the two planets are literally opposing each other and it's a struggle. This is the "conventional" interpretation of an opposition.

2. They complement each other - for instance, Mercury and Uranus have quite similar energies in some respects, and Mercury/Uranus oppositions are often creative rather than troublesome. This is especially true when one planet is in a sign that the other one "wants" to be in - I've got Mars opposite Uranus, and my Mars is in Aquarius (which Uranus rules), so they work really well together.

3. They can play out as "projection". For instance, I've got Pluto opposite Venus. I can be quite manipulative, but I am sometimes guilty of acting out my Venus and blaming the manipulation on *other* people: I want to be seen as "nice", so I roleplay Venus. The other person can roleplay the horrid Pluto! Napoleon Bonaparte also had this opposition - but in his case, he wanted to be seen as the powerful leader rather than "nice", so he acted out his Pluto instead.

In a synastry chart, I'd say a contact between (say) your Venus and his Mars is better than no contact - even if that contact is a "difficult" one like a square.